PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
The Pulpit Commentary — Hosea
John James Given [1853-1943] · 418,632 words · 462 reading sections
The Pulpit Commentary — Hosea — Section 181
true religion is steadfastness. "The path or the just" is not" as a mornin" cloud," but "ae the morning" itself," that shineth more and more unto the perfect day" (Prov. iv. 18). (2) Unhappy. Those who do not" follow on to know the Lord," but allow themselves to be hindered by the discouragements and sufferings which …
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moral and ceremonial le.ws; (3) evangelicRl, for all the Mosaic institutions pointed to Chri~t. Under every economy, also, religion has consisted in e.cceptauce of this crwenRnt Rnd fidelity to its obligations. In every age faith in God has been the bond nf 1(-!ng fellowship with him. 2. The o_ffering of the worship…
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Ver. 1.-0n returning to the Lord. The graciousness of God is seen in nothina more conspicuously than in hie willingness to receive those who come to him und~r the influence of sorrow. In all ages he has condescended to use afflictions to bring men and nations to an acknowledgment of their need of him. This was always a…
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men. This would be a strange declaration if e.11 life was limited to this world by the abyss of the grave. Then it would seem as if we were created for eufferincr l\nd that the asrnrance, "God ie love," was a mockery. But we are destined to dwefi' near God eternally, to do in hie presence a service for which we a.re h…
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while from the brazen eky there came "no voice, nor any that a.nswcrecl;" but we speak to the Fa.ther who sees in secret, till the eweet sense of his pardon in"'0 love sinks deep into our hearts, 'l'he penitent is not like the heathen on pilgrimage to the sacred shrine, who sometimes measures the whole length of his j…
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Ver. 3 (last clausc).-Heavenly blessings for weary souls. This clause, read in the light of the context, evidently refers to the outpouring of Divine influence-in other words, to the gift of the Holy Spirit. As the earth waits for the rain, so the Church waits for the :Spirit. 'l'he appropriateness of the figure wil…
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" Difl'nse, 0 God, those copious showere, Thl\t earth its fruit may yield; And change this barren wilderness To Carmel's flowery field." II. CoNBIDER THE BLEBBING IN ITS EFFEOTB. 1. The revival of drooping life. Descri he a corn-field in spring-time after a time of drought. Contrast its condition after a week'~ rai…
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prayer, bccnnse he could say, "To the Lord our God belong mercies nnd forgivenesses, though we bave rebelled 11gainst him" (see also Micah vii. 18; Ezek. xviii. 32, oto.). In the fulness of time God sent his Son, that men might know his love that it might be "commended" t-0 them; yet even the Son of God was cast out…
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like flashing jewels over things unsightly a.nd base, a.s well a.a tipping each blade of grass and filling the cups of tho flowers. But when the sun has risen the dew is gone, and soon th? herbage is parched. How fitting are these illustrations of tears, feelings, resolves, which cause hope to the onlooker, though they…
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JV. DIFFIDENCE EXPECTS DELAY lN THIS PROCESS OF QUICKENING, WHICH THE I,IVING Lono DIBI'ENSES WITH. How natura.l is the shamefaced, modest hope I "Not porhape y<'t, but soon, it may be after a delay of two days; then on the third day the Lord will rPdve us." But the word goes forth," Breathe upon these slain, that they…
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Ver. 3.-The rain. The climate of Palestine differe from our own. There are "cnrly" mine at sowing-time. Rain continues from autumn until sprincr. That which swells the corn and prepares for harvest is the "latter" rain. Defici;ncy of rain is fatal to the hope~ of the husba.ndman; regular and abundant rains ensure his c…
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Ver. 6.-"Mei·cy better than sacrifice. This is one of those sublime declarations of Seri pture which taken together are a proof of its inspiration; one of those "Jewels five words long, That on the stretch'd forefinger of all time Sparkle for ever." !. Tms PRINCIPLE IB CONTRARY TO THE CUSTOMARY BELD!:FB BEGABDING …
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those who he.d been emitten or sent into exile. They mean: let us go no more to the Assyri~nR nor to an:y other incapable deliverer, but'.' let u~ retnrn unto the Lord;" put away ail confidence m an arm of flesh, renounce all 1<lolatnes. Take the words as indi- cating man's highest social action. Man, as a member of so…
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we may translate those ideas into emotions, and every day we may cherish those emotions into dominant forces of the souL All this requires the most resolute and persistent effort. II. Goo IN A MAN-WARD DIRECTION. The man who goes forth in search of a heart- acquaintance with Jehovah will meet with him iu the way. "His…
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Jove freely and without restraint. On earth it is not so. Men set their wills In hoAtility to his. Their langua!(e is, "We will not have thee to reign over us." They are robe18, and wiJI not lay down their a_rms of hostili_ty and become loyal snhjccts, hence they must be crushed; they are d1sease<l, and will not accept…
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assemblies, I c1rnnot away with; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting, Your new moons and your appointed fea~ts my soul hateth: they are a trouble unto me· I am wear.,· to bear them. And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide min'e eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear" (Isa. i. 13-16)…
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"The clergy, when wicked, e.re the worst of all men; none so cruel and bloody." It is time for the people to be taught that e. pulpit is not necessarily a Christian or a useful thing. It ml\y be-ale.a I it sometime~ is-the corruptest ancl the most pernicious thing in the neighbourhood in which it has a place. A man is …
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"Though the mills of God grind slowly, yet they grind exceeding smnll • Though with patienoe he stands wa.iting, with exaotness grinds he nil.': (Longfellow.) D.T. Vers. 1-8.-Returning to God. Affliction is represented as having at leno-th accomplished its work. In the far country the prodigal bethinks himself of …
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to say the least, significant that words should be used here so exactly descriptive of the period during which Christ remaine,l under the power of death. There is probably a glance Christ-wards in the passage. 5. The end of revival is that we may l-i-11e wnto God. "And we shall live in his sight." See this thought deve…
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Vers. 4-6.-Evanishin_q _qoodness. So froward, heedless, fickle, and incorrigible had Erhrnim proYed, that God did not know what more he could do with him. 'l.'he same was true of Judah. 'l'he tender mode of speech, "0 Ephraim, what shall I do unto thee? 0 Judah, what shall I do unto thee?" shows how loth God is to p…
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"death into our world, and all our woe." 2. Israel's sin. (j,,d made a covenant with Israel at Sinai. It was a covenant of Law, yet it had mercy 1~ the heart of it. It required obedience, but it embraced provision for the removal of g,:;J t. It asked from Israel only the pure will and the steadfast heart. It conveyed t…
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bftel We me.y, with eome, underste.nd this Ver. 2.-.lnd they ooneider not in their bee.Jing of those (1) prophetic e.dmonitions hearts (margin, eay not to their heart) that I and rebukes by whioh God designe,l to remember all their wickedness. Between oure the transgressions e.nd heal the b1tck- the oommon reading l…
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somewhat different rendering, and conse- wickedness may do its work, and completely quently different exposition, have much to pervade the minds into which it has been recommend them : " In their wickedness introduced, and until maUers are th(Jroughly they m11ke the king merry, and in theil' matured for action. Mean…
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teache~ ns; the fire by which it is inflamed justified by the cireumetance that the ne.rnea is the fire of sinful passion, and the fuel of fire and of what is connectc,l therewith that feeds the 1iitme ie the murderous ma- are feminine in the Semitic, eo that ,,in ie cl.iiualion on which they are at present so femin…
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01•J; • others ngain ( o) take the word e.8 e. brought their heart into their e.m bush, ns nominative absolute, or translate the clau8o into the oven." In this rendering he com- 08 on Independent one i thus Simson: "It bines the explanation of Ewald and Hitzig. is tho dtiy of our king." 2. Again, n1:>:1, 2. In the s…
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"to call on the Ne.me or JehovA.h," whioh is retribution, thorefore, when God gave them rather to re,·<:>ren<:>e and worship JC1hovab. over into the hand of those hcttLhen peoples 2. The word j'1 is more poetic than t:iic~, to WI\Ste their resources 1111d leave them though the meaning of both is "jndging," the ehom of…
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'I'hese no.tions, moreover, devoured their in departing from the Lord ; and at the so.me no.tione.l resources by the imposition of t!Lxes ti~e the dangerous consequences that were o.nd hostile incursions; thus the King of neither remote nor capable of being staved Syric, left "of the people to J ehoahaz only off; e.s e…
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ite ne~t e.nd resting-plaoe, and then help• go. God threatens to 11pread a net over them, l088ly flnttoring about, e.ooording to Ewl\ld; from whieh there can .be no eacapo. The nor b~- its falling into the net of the bird- ohief aim of Hebrew sovereigns e.nd rulers oat:(lbcr in its effort t.o eeoape from the hawk, w…
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Ver.13.-Woe unto them! for they have others tn:rned aside to the idohtry or th() :fled from me: deatruotion (margin, 8poil) calves,-all, with probably somo honourablo unt1> them I beoauae they have tranagreaaed exceptions, had proved fa.Isa to his covenant against me, Of theee exclamations, the with Israel. The last cl…
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worship to Jeho,·a.h; or for the purpose of free'] nor helper for Israel . . . the Lord plunder in R sea.son of BCRrrity; or 11:encrl\lly . . . BRved them by the hond of Jeroboe.m 1heir R•~emhling- in knots a.nd crowds to the son of Joo.eh.'' Notwithst,mding all disc11ss anxiously a.nd lRment despairingly this, they…
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HOMILETICS. Vere. l-7.-0rimea charged 011, Israel; people and prina,. It was a time of !!l'eat corruption and of atrocious crimes. Nor were those crimes committeil only by pe~s••" "of the baser sort;" people and princes alike, rulers and ruled, had their share in them • the country and the capital, Ephraim and Samaria…
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the removal of ringleaders in iniquity and notable apostates, as when ho made an ond of the dynasty of Ahab. Not e. few similar instances in subsequent and modern times might be pointed out. III. THE EXTENT OF THE HURT DI'SCOVERED BY THE ATTEMPT AT HEALING, While God was n111nifest-ing his intentions of mercy towar…
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the sad effects tlJereof shall entangle them as in a net. They Ahl!.11 see their sins in the pnnishmcnts they bring 1tpon them; they shall feel them in the sorrows and sufferings that nttend them; nm! they shall recognize that God had them before his face all the time, having knowledge of them when committed, taking no…
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impuulty ie cherished, the fire of lust that seemed smouldering flames up with inoreascd intensity; the wioked plot is executed; the covert passion breaks out into the overt act; the half-st.ifled concupiscence finds vent; the lustful, covetous, or ambitious project is accomplished. Yli. DRUNKENNESS IS A PREPARATIO…
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Vere. 8-11.-T/ie ,illy sinful pride and obduracy of Israel, in spite of many manifest tolcens of decay, or their disastrous foreign policy. The prophet had dcscri bed the cor- ruption; he now turns to the state of the country. From the iniquity of the princes he descends to the sin of the people. The figure of baking i…
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Chnrcb-are in this ijad cOlldition of spiritual -declensiqu, e.Ull Jiardly conscious o( HI Grey hairs arc here and there upon them, and they know it not, The dwelling-place of ~od is not so love!>', nor the te.bernacles of his grace so amiable, as they once were; there 1s not the same relish for the Word of God as th…
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V, FOLLY THE CAUSE OF' MEN NEGLECTING THE RIGHT, AND REBOIITING TO WRONG SOUIIOE~ OF' BUOC01;'R AND _UELIEF, _I. Simplici_ty wi~h godly sinc~rity, in accepting the Word of G?d and m oboyrng the will of Go~, 1s ~st1m~ble and high I.,: co~mendable; simplicity without a heart to love God, following his guidance, and delig…
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pared three several times to a baker's "oven," the meaning being that in doing t'helr deeds of guilt they were enthusiastic and passionAt.c. 'l'hey sinned hotly in the direc- tion of: _(1) Idolatry_. (Ver. 4.) "They are all adulterers;" i:e· king, princes, and ]){'Opie ahke were guilty of apostasy from Jehovah, and …
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JI. TEE OHARACTEB OF MANY WHO MAKE A PROFESSION OF RELIGION. 1. In this connection various ideas are suggested. 1. Hypocrisy. Ephraim bon..~ted that he was a nation sacred to Jehovah all the while that be addicted himself to the idolatry of Baal an,l .Ashtaroth. So, still, the man who sings at meeting and swears at mar…
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hea.r Cl~ri~t•s gospel preached,_ it is dutiful also to obey his other. precepts; as, e.g., to "do this IIl remembrance of him," and,•• whatsoever we do, to do all in the N rime of the Lord Jesus.'' ·' III. 'I'm; SPIRITUAL OONDITION OF MANY TRUE CHRISTIANS. Indeed, we micrht almost l'ay, of all. For where is the be…
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th:ie /':grey hnir," 4.,,0ppressioTf, P/ the po!YT:. If a nation is to continue safe againRt diRsolution, it must be,govcrned by justice and humanity. The ft'rench revolution of 178!J was the result of the sinful waste of the Bourbon kings, and the misery of the lo"rench pe11snntry. But every nation is in danger which …
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CoNCLtr~roN. We require frequently to" examine ourselves, whetl1er we be In the faith." \'i'e ought constantly to holrl up before our eyes the clear mirror of Holy Scripture, !hat we may detect. the" f1;1'ey hairs." We must also see reflected in it the glorious form of the Lord Jesus, the one Image of perfect manhoo…
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had foolishly trusted. But does not this graphic metaphor," a. deceitful bow," describe the character of every unbeliever; and of every Christian, in so far as he trusts in his own strength? "In like way doth every sinner act, using against Goel in the service of Satan, God's gifts of nature or of outward means, talent…
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people around. Partaker's in gnilt, they would be partakers In p1mishn,eht. To us itlfo ~estrictions placed on their mn.rriage and th_eir commerce appear illiberal; but he wht> nnposed tb_em u~ders~~od the weakuess of tb!s people, a11d :,st1mated rightly the univai·- saltty 1md mtens1ty ol idolatry. Results Jnsllfie…
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Jn the counsels or the wicked concerning one who is half-hearted ii is said " We will o.ek him ago.in; his answer we.e not decided; he is not an avowedly Christia~ man ; by o. little pressure we can bring him over." How can such a man pray, "Lear! us n0t into temptation, but deliver '!s from evil".? 2.. You weaken powe…
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Ver. 14.-Useless prayers. Two instances in Scripture or true repentance at the point of death. Manasseh in the Old Testament, the dying thief in the New Testament. 'l'hese save from despair, yet are too few to allow any to presume on them. Four characteristics of the useless prayer mentioned in the text. I. IT IS A D…
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Vcn1. 11, 12.-The siTly dove. The fo1ly of siu Is a fr<lquent topio with the inspired writers, and is urged upon the attention of some who may be more fearful of lacking wisdom than of grieving God. ln this passe.ge the prophet makes 'use of a homely and striking similitude with a view to impress upon the rebellious…
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Vere. 2, 3.-GotJ', remtmbr0in,Ge of nn. "And they consider not in their hearts that I remember all their wickedness: now their own doing!!< have beset them ahnnt; they are before my face. They make the king glad with their wickedness, and the princes with their lies." These words contain three facts. I. That God RE…
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The primary application of these words to Ephraim is obvioua from the context, and from the history of Israel at the time. We shall use them ae indicating certain bad ~spects of human character. I. WRoNo C?MPANIONSHIP. "Ephraim, he bath mixed himself among the people." The reference 1s here not to the punishment or…
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Ver. 11.-The si1liness of sin. "Ephraim also is like a silly dove without heart." "There is much force and beauty in this comparison of Ephraim to a 'silly dove without heart,' or mther without understanding, which when pursued by a bird of prey trusts to the rapidity of its flight; that is, relies upon its own powers…
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and partly by appealing to the help of Ei:ypt; and while so doing, they did not observe that they had !alien into the net of destruction by the power of .Assyria. In this net will the Lord entangle them es a punishment. As they go thither God will spread h!s net. over. them like a bird-cat~her, and bring them down t…
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worketh God oftentimee In man, that he may bring him ba.ok from the pit and enlighten him with the light of the living." II. THAT WHATEVER THE 0HARAOTER OF THE DIVINE DISPENSATIONS, THEY ARl!l OFTEN PERVERTED. "They imagine mischief against me," It matters not what the treatment, they continue to rebel. They are like …
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cnmplet.c renewal. We have evidence every day of the det.ermtned resist1mce which sin is c-apable 0f offering to God. We see it in others, and. we know it in experience. 3. Tile at.tempt to cure sin often results in aggravated manifeatations of it. The. sinful heart is roused to antagonism. Its latent enmity to God …
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stirred up to e. flnme, and the act of wickedness is const1rnmated. The general thought is the syetematio character of the sin, ite deliberatenesE in being previou~ly conceived, planned, prep11rcd for-the soul, thereafter, being held as it were in readiness for il3 execution. Three lllustrntions, though the figure a…
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requmng eeparation from the ungodly, had intimately 8B80Qiated himself wi\h the idolatrous nations around. The mixing, 81! Keil well points out, was an inward olie before it. became an outward one. There is first a mixing in th~ liea.rt with the spirit of the world, then comes outward worldly conformity. It is this …
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of ~he reading of God's Word; aversion to religious conversation; the prckrnce of the eo01ety of the worldly to the wciety of God's people ; neglect of the ~aactuary ; a light, depreciating way in speaking of religious earnestness, etc. 3. The progress of spiritual decay is often not noticed by the sinner himself. It c…
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EXPOSITION. CHAPTER VIII. off. The sixth verse contains the doom of this silly, sinful, and disgusting idol. This chapter deals with the punishment In the seventh verse the threat of snoh of apostasy. Once more the sins of the destruction is accounted for on a broad northern kiugdom Bl'e enumerated and its prin…
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while hie explanation is as follows; " Since, exhibit the ce.11se of l!!l'ael's being exposed though I preserved them and instructed to the sudden hostile attMk which the them, and gave them victory over their prophet was . commissioned to proclaim. enemies (for I strengthened them), they The provocat10ns of Israel …
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in Soripture, 111 Ezek. :nxix. 11 and Pe. not approve; and ao wo must dieliirtgnieh -,di. 10." The word "I1rael" ie omitted by between the pPrmieeion and npproval or the LXX. and Syriao, and in many manu- .lohovah; in hie government he permits scripts of Kennicott and De Roesi. many thing's which from hie nature we …
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an 'ei:bortBtibn t(, Bamltrla, and not only origin of this idolatry-thie god of gold was Sam11ri11, but the entire country, with the out of Israel, it proceeded from them and inho.bito.nte or the capital at its hee.d, to was invented hy their kings. The second oo.st a.side the calf-worship by which they clause shows…
1,005 wordsSource & rights
Public domain historical Pulpit Commentary. Source page identifies the volume as Public Domain; text extracted from its historical PDF.
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Historical Christian writing; not Scripture.